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Genesys Hospice Care looking for more volunteers - The Flint Journal Online News - Mi... Page 1 of 3

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75° F INSIDE THE JOURNAL Genesys Hospice Care looking for more volunteers 24° C Flint-Area News Now by Elizabeth Shaw | The Flint Journal • Other Cities, Radar, More ... • Change Location Tuesday April 15, 2008, 4:33 PM

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• Flint Jobs • Flint Real Estate Katie Rausch | The Flint Journal • Flint Autos • Flint Classifieds Dick Lowthian of Brandon Township has volunteered at Genesys Hospice Care Center in Goodrich since his father died there about five years ago. Every Wednesday, Lowthian continues to make rounds through the facility to visit patients, helping as Browse posts by day: he can. Select a date

ATLAS TWP., Michigan -- Retired state Trooper Dick Lowthian has heard a lot of people's stories over the years. But he never gets tired of listening. He knows he could be the last one Browse posts by week: to hear them. Want to help? Select a date Lowthian is a volunteer at the • What: Hospice Volunteer Training. Genesys Hospice Care Center in LATEST FROM THE FLINT JOURNAL Goodrich, where his knack for • Who: Anyone age 16 and older. listening has led him to create Sports AUDIO & PODCASTS • When: 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays and • Kenny Perry wins 2008 Buick Open by 1 shot "life reviews" -- writings and Thursdays , April 22 - May 15. • Bubba Watson falls short of earning first PGA • 1941 Buick on display videos of patients wishing to Tour victory in Buick Open during Sloan Summer share their last thoughts and • Where: Genesys Hospice Care Auto Fair this weekend wishes. Center, 7280 S. State Road, preserves a piece of Pearl Goodrich. Business Harbor history "Sometimes they can't really • Can we please try to be nice?, asks Flint Journal • Attorney claims Swartz talk to anyone about their • How: Register at (810) 636-5021. columnist Marjory Raymer Creek sixth grader impending death because their Roberto Anderson family and friends are still Entertainment couldn't swim; police say hoping there's going to be something that'll turn it around," said Lowthian. otherwise • 'How sweet it is'; Temptations excited to "Some don't even want their families to see it before they pass away. I perform in Michigan; Show at DTE Music Theatre • Fenton-area group wraps in Clarkston also to feature the Four Tops gifts for others imagine when they do, it's pretty special to them."

FLINT NEWS PODCASTS » Hospice volunteers help people through their final days in a myriad of ways -- writing letters, doing light housework, sitting at a bedside to give FLINT-AREA SHOPPING MORE NEWS AUDIO » family caregivers a much-needed break. Find great deals from these Flint Journal The skills are easy to teach, said volunteer coordinator Loraine Travis. The advertisers online: FLINT PHOTOS talents and compassion are your own. Applegate Chevrolet Arby's "A lot of people believe they don't have the qualifications to do this work BatteriesPlus but previous experience isn't required," said Travis, who is seeking Battle Creek Annual Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival volunteers for a new training class that starts Tuesday. "It's really about Bauman's Running & Walking Shop providing simple support and companionship. Our gift of presence is the Before & After Cleaning Service, Inc. Belle Tire Family Festival kicks off greatest gift that people can give each other." Brown's Roadhouse in Flint Township with According to a recent University of Michigan study, more than one-third of High Flying Pages Americans now die under hospice care, which helps terminally ill patients Visit Michigan Shopping • St. Matthews Catholic have a dignified and pain-free death in the days or months after life-saving

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efforts have ended. School in Flint demolished The study revealed that communities with lower average incomes and SPECIAL SECTIONS • Window cleaning work education levels as well as areas with large elderly populations are less done at Kettering University in Flint likely to be served by hospice than communities of wealthier, more educated and younger populations. MORE FLINT PHOTOS » The reason: Hospice flourishes in areas where patients and families can pay for care and services not covered by Medicare or other insurance, the • Flint Apartment Locator FLINT NEWS VIDEO researchers believe. • Michigan's Best Golf Medicare only reimburses 70 percent of the cost for many end-of-life • Michigan Festivals & Events 2008 • Chopra takes lead in • Flint Answer Book Buick Open services, the report said, and hospices must make up the difference • Flint Realtor Review • Chopra takes lead in through out-of-pocket charges, charity donations and volunteerism. • Ladies First Buick Open • Flint Auto Alley • Chopra takes lead in Lowthian volunteered after his own father died in 2003. • 2008 Michigan Campground Directory Buick Open "It was only his last four or five days he was in hospice but it was a • Realtor Review • Pure Michigan Summer Travel Guide MORE NEWS VIDEO » different kind of caring you saw, that convinced me it was a good place," • Salute to 2008 Graduates said Lowthian. "I just wanted to be a part of that operation somehow." See all Flint Journal Special Sections COMMUNITY PAPERS Grand Blanc Township resident Scott Filer became a hospice volunteer after caring for his father in his last 18 months as a homebound invalid.

Select a newspaper FLINT BLOGS The father and son had never been close, Filer said, but their bond slowly grew through his nightly visits after work. Come Heller High Water CONTACT US "Even though the circumstances by Andrew Heller Place an ad: were not the best, it gave us a • Wanted: Your • Classifieds chance to relate and be with each brilliant thoughts • Newspaper Rate Card other. We became buddies for the • If the Flint police first time," said Filer. "After he chief is going to be ridiculous, Buy: passed away, I just felt like I missed that relationship and heck, go all the • Subscribe to the Journal way wanted to work with elderly • Long-term text archives people again." MORE • Page/Photo Reprints The industrial tooling salesman Offbeat Contact the Newspaper: Katie Rausch | The Flint Journal now spends time after work by Bryn Mickle • Staff Contacts Dick Lowthian displays one of the crosses he making friends out of strangers at • Offbeat: Urine hands out to anyone who asks for his ministry • Additional Contacts the Grand Blanc Rehabilitation trouble -- Flint at Genesys Hospice Care Center in Goodrich, and Nursing Home in Grand landlord-tenant where he volunteers once a week as a spiritual and vigil caregiver. 'We don't treat them like Blanc. dispute gets AP NEWSFLASH dying people.' He said. 'The volunteers try to messy make each day as good a day as we can.' "Not everybody has the luxury to • Offbeat: Woman • Sunday's winning be there every day and looks in dumpster Michigan lottery participate in their loved one's for next family numbers 6/29/2008, 7:54 passing. And sometimes the family just needs a break to go to dinner or pet; Gets bit by p.m. EDT white rat outside • Metal detector hobbyist run some errands. We're able to sit in for them," said Filer. "But you'd be Flint elementary finds ring lost in surprised how many people have family who basically check them into school 1954 6/29/2008, 7:50 p.m. those places and never come back. EDT MORE • Man dies after being "I just can't stand the thought of somebody having to pass away without kicked in head by someone around them. It has to be so lonely. It's an honor and privilege to Special Reports horse 6/29/2008, 7:18 p.m. work with these people and be accepted into their lives. I love them all." by Journal staff EDT Filer said the most important things he does are the most basic. • Kayla Rolland MORE AP HEADLINES » shooting shocked "In my family we always hug and kiss when you come into the house. But the nation, but so many people are afraid to touch someone who's dying. Anything from a also brought ADVERTISEMENT people together hug or kiss to just holding their hand means so much. It's the ultimate act of caring and acceptance." • Hamady book Volunteers typically donate a few hours once a week but many end up signing draws doing far more, Travis said. 200-plus MORE "Hospice work gets in your blood and becomes a part of who you are," said Travis, who's been in the field since 1996. Feedback Volunteers visit people who've chosen to die at home as well as those in by Journal staff hospice centers and nursing homes. Anyone age 16 and up is welcome and • What do you a growing number of men are volunteering. think of new Flint Police Chief David "These are the people who raised us, who went before us. Somebody's Dicks ordering parents," said Filer. "A lot of people think it's a special thing we do. I think police to crack it should be the normal thing to do." down on sagging pants? • What do you Send To A Friend | Print this | Permalink think of Linda Thompson's new Reddit Digg del.icio.us Google Yahoo Facebook salary as Flint School District COMMENTS (1) Post a comment superintendent? MORE Posted by flintfan32 on 04/16/08 at 6:45AM Voters Guide This is a wonderful organization whose people deserve all the recognition for by Journal staff the quality work they do and service they provide. • How to use this election guide Inappropriate? Alert us. Post a comment • Richfield Township voters to decide police millage Username (Don't Have a Username? Sign up here):

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VOICES Remember Me Login Reset • Cracking down on bullying is a key to helping children succeed, stay safe • Reader representative, Kristen Skivington, at Flint Journal helps shape our editorial positions

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